Device and method of displaying windows by using work group

ABSTRACT

An electronic apparatus, computer-readable recording medium, and method of providing a plurality of work group objects are provided. The method includes providing a plurality of work group objects respectively representing a plurality of work groups, providing a plurality of window objects in response to a selection of a work group object and representing a plurality of windows, providing a window in response to a selection of a window object, and providing an object representing windows corresponding to all of the window objects associated with one of the work groups.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/792,697, filed on Jul. 7, 2015 which claims priority from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2014-0098644, filed on Jul. 31, 2014, andKorean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0180502, filed on Dec. 15, 2014,in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with one or more exemplaryembodiments relate to a device and method of displaying a window byusing a work group. More particularly, apparatuses and methodsconsistent with one or more exemplary embodiments relate to a device andmethod of grouping windows and switching between grouped windows.

2. Description of the Related Art

Operating systems (OSs) in a multi-window environment may executeseveral jobs for each application, and a window corresponding to each ofthe jobs may be displayed. For example, a user may open a plurality ofwindows in order to perform a plurality of types of projects (e.g.,project A and project B). In this case, if a first window of a firstapplication and a first window of a second application are necessary forproject A and a second window of the first application, a first windowof a third application, and a first window of a fourth application arenecessary for project B, when a user wants to switch a screen imagebetween the windows necessary for performing project A (i.e., the firstwindow of the first application and the first window of the secondapplication), the user needs to individually check a plurality ofwindows displayed by an OS and search for the necessary windows in orderto display the windows and work with them. Thus, as the number ofwindows displayed by an OS increases, it may take more time to findwindows necessary for performing a desired job.

To reduce the time taken to switch between windows, there is a demandfor a method of grouping windows regardless of applications andproviding a user with grouped windows.

SUMMARY

In a window displaying method using a work group according to anexemplary embodiment, windows of a plurality of applications are set asa group. When at least one window included in the work group isdisplayed, objects representing the other windows included in the workgroup may also be displayed on the displayed window. Thus, a user mayeasily view and work with the windows belonging to determined workgroups.

Moreover, by selecting objects representing the windows included in awork group based on a user input, a window corresponding to the selectedwindow may be activated and displayed on the screen. Accordingly, a usermay conveniently perform a screen image switch between the windowsincluded in a work group.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented exemplary embodiments.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided adevice including: a display; a storage configured to store a work groupincluding a plurality of jobs; and a controller configured to controlthe display to display a window corresponding to at least one jobincluded in the work group and display at least one object representinganother job included in the work group on the displayed window.

The device may further include a user input configured to receive aninput of a user. In response to an object from among the at least oneobject displayed within the window being selected by the input of theuser, the controller may control the display to display a windowcorresponding to the selected object.

The controller may control the display to display the at least oneobject representing the other job included in the work group on a frameof the displayed window.

The controller may control the display to display one or more objectsrepresenting one or more jobs other than the at least one jobcorresponding to the displayed window from among the plurality of jobsincluded in the work group.

In response to a certain text within the window being copied, thecontroller may control the display to display an object representing atleast one window to which the copied text is to be pasted.

The device may further include a user input configured to receive a userinput. In response to a work group area representing the work groupbeing displayed on display, the controller may select at least onewindow based on the user input, and determine the work group by addingan object representing the selected at least one window to the workgroup area.

The controller may set an attribute that is common to windowscorresponding to the at least one job included in the work group.

The common attribute may include information about a connected externaldevice.

The controller may select a job of an application that is not beingexecuted, and add the selected job to the work group.

The controller may acquire attribute information of at least one jobfrom among the plurality of jobs included in the work group, and add atleast one job currently being executed via another application to thework group, based on the acquired attribute information.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a windowdisplaying method using a work group includes: determining a work groupincluding a plurality of jobs selected by a user; displaying a windowcorresponding to at least one job included in the work group; anddisplaying at least one object representing another job included in thework group on the displayed window.

As a specific object displayed within the window is selected, the methodmay include displaying a window corresponding to the selected object.

The displaying of the object may include displaying the at least oneobject representing the other job included in the work group on a frameof the displayed window.

The displaying of the object may include displaying one or more objectsrepresenting one or more jobs other than the at least one jobcorresponding to the displayed window from among the plurality of jobsincluded in the work group.

The displaying of the object may further include, as a certain textwithin the window is copied, displaying an object representing at leastone window to which the copied text is to be pasted.

The determining of the work group may include displaying a work grouparea representing the work group; selecting at least one window based ona user input; and adding an object representing the selected window tothe work group area.

The method may further include setting an attribute that is common towindows corresponding to the at least one job included in the workgroup.

The determining of the work group may include selecting a job of anapplication that is not being executed, and adding the selected job tothe work group.

The determining of the work group may include acquiring attributeinformation of at least one job from among the plurality of jobsincluded in the work group; and adding at least one job that is beingexecuted via another application to the work group, based on theacquired attribute information.

The other methods for implementing the disclosure, a system forimplementing the disclosure, and a non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium having recorded thereon a computer program, which, whenexecuted by a computer, performs the above-described method are furtherprovided.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a device isprovided. The device includes a storage configured to store a work groupincluding a plurality of jobs; and a controller configured to control todisplay a window corresponding to at least one job included in the workgroup and to display at least one object representing another jobincluded in the work group on the displayed window.

The device may further include: a user input configured to receive aninput of a user, and in response to an object from among the at leastone object displayed within the window being selected based on the inputof the user, the controller may be configured to control to display awindow corresponding to the selected object.

The controller may be configured to acquire attribute information ofeach of a plurality of jobs, and to selectively add each of theplurality of jobs to the work group based on respective attributeinformation of each of the plurality jobs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of displaying one or more work groupsincluding one or more jobs according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a window displaying method according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a method of determining a work group,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an example of displaying objects representingwindows included in a work group on a window frame, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of displaying objects representingwindows included in a work group on a window frame, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of displaying objects representingwindows included in a work group in the form of tabs, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6B illustrates a work group setting screen image according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of switching between windows includedin a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8A shows an example of a method of switching between windows withina work group, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8B shows another example of a method of switching between windowswithin a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows another example of a method of switching between windowswithin a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method of displaying objects representingwindows included in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows an example of displaying objects representing windowsincluded in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows another example of displaying objects representing windowsincluded in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows another example of displaying objects representing windowsincluded in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows another example of displaying objects representing windowsincluded in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a method of displaying all of the windowsincluded in a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows an example of displaying all of the windows included in awork group, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 17 shows another example of displaying all of the windows includedin a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18 shows an example in which a mobile terminal according to anexemplary embodiment manages each work group in the form of a folder;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based ona user input, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20A shows an example of a method of determining a work group basedon a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20B illustrates an example of a method of determining a work groupname, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20C illustrates another example of a method of determining a workgroup name, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21 shows another example of a method of determining a work groupbased on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 22 shows another example of a method of determining a work groupbased on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 23 shows another example of a method of determining a work groupbased on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 24A and 24B show another example of a method of determining a workgroup based on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 25A and 25B show another example of a method of determining a workgroup based on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onattribute information of windows, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 27 shows a method of determining a work group based on attributeinformation of windows, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onnames of files associated with windows, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onwriting times of files associated with windows, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based ondevices in which files associated with windows are written, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onstorage locations of files associated with windows, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 32A shows an example of a method of determining a work group basedon storage locations of files associated with windows, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 32B illustrates an example in which objects representing windowscorresponding to files included in a single folder are determined as awork group;

FIG. 33 shows another example of a method of determining a work groupbased on storage locations of files associated with windows, accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based ontimes at which windows are accessed, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onwindow switch information of windows, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a method of adding, to a work group, a windowof an application that is newly executed, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart of a method of adding, to a work group, a windowof an application that is newly executed, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 38 is a flowchart of a method of adding, to a work group, a windowof an application that is not included in the work group, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 39 shows a method of adding, to a work group, a window of anapplication that is not included in the work group, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 40 illustrates an example of a method of adding, to work groups,windows of applications that are executed by a plurality of devices,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 41A is a flowchart of an example of a method in which a pluralityof devices display windows by using a work group, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 41B illustrates a method in which a plurality of devices displaywindows by using a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 42 is a flowchart of another example of a method in which aplurality of devices display windows by using a work group, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 43 is a flowchart of another example of a method in which aplurality of devices display windows by using a work group, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 44 also illustrates another example of a method in which aplurality of devices display windows by using a work group, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 45 also illustrates another example of a method in which aplurality of devices display windows by using a work group, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 46 is a schematic view for explaining a method of setting differentattributes for different work groups, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 47 and 48 are block diagrams of devices related to an exemplaryembodiment; and

FIG. 49 is a block diagram of an external device related to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above-described objectives, features, and merits will be moreapparent via the following detailed description in connection with theaccompanying drawings. As the inventive concept allows for variouschanges and numerous exemplary embodiments, particular exemplaryembodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detailin the written description. Like reference numerals in the drawingsbasically denote like elements. In the description, certain detailedexplanations of related-art functions or structures are omitted when itis deemed that they may unnecessarily obscure the essence of theinventive concept. While such terms as “first,” “second,” etc., may beused to describe various components, such components must not be limitedto the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish onecomponent from another.

Electronic devices associated with this disclosure will now be describedin more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Terms suchas “ . . . unit” and “ . . . module,” are used in the followingdescription in consideration of only ease of drafting of thespecification, and thus do not have distinct meanings or roles inthemselves.

Herein, “an exemplary embodiment” of the principles of the presentinventive concept indicates a specific feature, structure, andcharacteristic described together with an exemplary embodiment includedin at least one exemplary embodiment of the principles of the presentinventive concept. Thus, the expression “according to an exemplaryembodiment” used in the entire specification does not necessarilyindicate the same exemplary embodiment.

Examples of a device described in the specification may include, but arenot limited to, a personal computer (PC), a smart television (TV), amobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcastingterminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimediaplayer (PMP), a navigation, and a wearable device.

An application described in the specification denotes applicationsoftware, and may be a program for allowing a computer to actuallyperform a task according to use purposes. The application may meansoftware that is executed in an operating system (OS) provided in adevice, in a broad sense. Accordingly, the application may be softwaresuch as a word processor, a spreadsheet, or a web browser, and may alsobe a compiler, a linker, or the like. The application is shortened to bereferred to as an app.

A window is not limited to this structure, and it may be easilyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosurepertains that the window may include several types of user interfaces(UIs) via which works performed via an application can be provided to auser.

Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element, or can be electricallyconnected or coupled to the other element with intervening elementsinterposed therebetween. In addition, the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated elements, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements.

Throughout the specification, the terms “job” and “work” may be usedinterchangeably to mean an action performed by a computer.

The disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of displaying one or more work groupsincluding one or more jobs according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a device 1000 according to an exemplary embodimentmay execute at least one job for each application by using an OS in amulti-window environment, and each job is displayed via a windowcorresponding thereto. The job is a form of the application beingexecuted, and the application may be executed as a plurality of jobs.The job may be executed as a process or a thread, which is a form inwhich an application program executing code is stored in a storage unitand is executed via a controller. The window may be a rectangular areathat includes a work execution status of the application and a controlUI. For example, a window may be a rectangular area that is adjustablein size and movable based on a user input, within the screen of adevice. The device 1000 may display only some windows 11 and 12 on thescreen thereof.

First, the device 1000 may provide a plurality of windows in order toperform various projects (e.g., project A and project B). A projectdenotes a group of a plurality of jobs necessary for producing a resultdesired by a user. For example, a job of writing a first document via aword processor, a job of writing a second document via a spreadsheet,and a job of browsing a specific website via a web browser may bedefined as jobs included in a project.

In another example, it is assumed that project A includes a work that isexecuted via a first application, a work that is executed via a secondapplication, and a work that is executed via a third application. It isalso assumed that project B includes a work that uses the firstapplication, and a work that uses a fourth application. In this case,the device 1000 may provide a first window of the first application, afirst window of the second application, and a first window of the thirdapplication to perform project A, and provide a second window of thefirst application and a first window of the fourth application toperform project B.

For example, the device 1000 may provide a user with a first window of asearch application for a data collecting work, a first window of a wordprocessor for arranging collected data, and a first window of anapplication for writing presentation material in order to perform aproject of writing presentation material. At the same time, the device1000 may provide the user with a second window of the search applicationfor a data collecting work and a first window of a statistical datawriting application in order to perform a project of writing astatistical analysis.

However, when the user wants to switch a screen image between thewindows necessary for performing project A (i.e., the first windows ofthe first, second, and third applications), the user may generallyselect necessary windows (for example, the windows 11 and 12) by usingan application 10 for managing the plurality of windows provided by thedevice 1000. However, the application 10 for managing the plurality ofwindows executed by the device 1000 includes objects representing notonly the windows necessary for performing project A but also windowsunnecessary for performing project A. In other words, the application 10for managing windows simultaneously provides objects representing all ofthe windows that are executed by an OS. Accordingly, when many projectsare being executed by an OS, it may take long time to find the windowsnecessary for performing project A. When the user wants to first performproject A and then perform project B, it takes long time to search forwindows associated with project B from among the many windows that arecurrently being executed.

Accordingly, the device 1000 may provide the windows associated withproject A to a work group A. A work group may denote a group of windowsassociated with a certain project. Thus, the work group may include atleast one window. As at least one window 11 is displayed from among thewindows included in the work group A, the device 1000 may provide atleast one object 13 representing the other windows included in the workgroup A to the displayed window 11. The device 1000 may receive acommand selecting one from among the at least one object 13 provided tothe displayed window 11, and display the window 12 corresponding to aselected object 14 on the screen.

In other words, the device 1000 may determine the windows associatedwith a specific project as a work group and display the at least oneobject 13 representing the windows included in the determined work groupon the window 11. Thus, the user may easily recognize the windowsincluded in the work group and easily switch between the windowsincluded in the work group.

The work group is not limited to including windows, and may beunderstood as including works that are executed by an applicationcorresponding to a specific window. In other words, a work selected fromworks being currently executed in the device 1000 may be included in awork group in units of windows. Accordingly, the above-described objectrepresenting a window may correspond to an object representing a workincluded in a work group, and, when a specific object is selected, awindow corresponding to a work represented by the selected object may bedisplayed on the screen.

When an application being currently executed in the device 1000, such asa mobile terminal, provides only a single window, the work group maydenote a group of applications.

Thus, the expression “inclusion of a window in a work group” in thefollowing description may be understood as meaning that a work groupincludes a job or application that is being displayed on a specificwindow.

A method of displaying a window by using a work group, according to anexemplary embodiment, will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 2-46.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a window displaying method according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, in operation S210, the device 1000 may store a workgroup including a plurality of works selected by a user. The pluralityof works may be executed via different applications. The device 1000 maybe executing a window corresponding to each operation.

For example, FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a method of determining awork group, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, a first application is executing windows 310, 311,and 312 corresponding to three works, a second application is executingwindows 320 and 321 corresponding to two works, and a third applicationis executing a window 330 corresponding to one work. First through N-thgroups 301 through 303 are work groups each including windowsrespectively corresponding to works.

The device 1000 may determine the first window 310 of the firstapplication and the second window 320 of the second application fromamong windows corresponding to works that are being executed indifferent applications, as the first group 301. The device 1000 may alsodetermine the first window 310 of the first application and the window330 of the third application as the second group 302. A work group maynot necessarily include only windows corresponding to works that arebeing executed in different applications. Moreover, a work group is notlimited to including only windows corresponding to works that arecurrently being executed via an application. Accordingly, the secondwindow 321 of the second application may also be determined as the firstgroup 301. In another example, the window 330 of the third applicationcorresponding to a work of the third application that is not beingcurrently executed may be included in the second group 302.

Windows included in a specific work group may be determined based on auser input or may be automatically determined based on attributeinformation of a work window. Exemplary embodiments of selecting a workgroup will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 19-39.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in operation S220, the device 1000 may displaya window corresponding to at least one work included in the work group.

In operation S230, the device 1000 may also display at least one objectrepresenting another work included in the work group, within thedisplayed window.

For example, when one of the windows included in the determined workgroup is displayed, the device 1000 may also display at least one objectrepresenting another work included in the determined work group withinthe displayed window, in order to switch between windows included in thedetermined work group.

An object representing a work included in a work group may be an objectrepresenting a window corresponding to the work included in the workgroup. Accordingly, when a specific object displayed within the windowis selected, the device 1000 may display a window corresponding to theselected object. The operation of displaying the window corresponding tothe selected object may include an operation of switching a currentwindow to the window corresponding to the selected object, or anoperation of refreshing work contents displayed on the current windowwith work contents corresponding to the selected object. The switchbetween windows may denote an operation of deactivating a window beingcurrently displayed on the device 1000 and activating the windowcorresponding to the selected object to thereby display the activatedwindow on the device 1000. The deactivated state of a window may denotea state in which a work corresponding to the window is not displayed onthe screen but is operating in the background.

The device 1000 may give a special effect to an object corresponding toa currently-being-displayed window so that a user may convenientlyidentify the object. Alternatively, the device 1000 may display onlyobjects representing work windows other than the currently-beingdisplayed work window from among the work windows included in the workgroup.

In another example, an object representing a window included in a workgroup may be an object representing the work group. Accordingly, when anobject that is displayed within the window and represents a work groupis selected, the device 1000 may display all of the windows included inthe work group. Screen image switching between work groups may beperformed via objects representing the work groups. An operation of thedevice 1000 that is performed when an object representing a work groupis selected is not limited thereto, and the device 1000 may perform anoperation that is preset for user convenience. For example, when anobject representing a displayed work group is selected, the device 1000may switch a current window to a window that has recently been displayedfrom among the windows included in the work group.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an object representing a windowincluded in a work group may be displayed on a frame of acurrently-being-executed window. In another example, an objectrepresenting a window included in a working group may be displayed onthe window displayed by the device 1000, in a tab form.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when one or more of the windows ofthe work group are displayed in response to the selecting of the objectrepresenting the one or more windows of the work, the one or more of thewindows of the work group are displayed according to a location and alayout that is set by the user, a location and a layout in which the oneor more of the windows of the work group were most recently displayed, alayout and a location that is determined by the OS.

Examples in which the device 1000 displays an object representingwindows included in a work group within a window will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 4A-6.

FIGS. 4A-5 illustrate examples of displaying an object representingwindows included in a work group on a window frame, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the device 1000 may display an object 40representing windows included in a work group, on an upper frame of awindow 41. The object 40 representing windows may include icons, names,or thumbnails representing the windows included in the work group. Theobject 40 representing windows is not limited thereto, and the object 40may include certain types of images that are displayed on the screen ofthe device 1000 to represent the windows included in the work group. Inanother example, the device 1000 may display the object 40 representingthe windows included in the work group, on a lower frame of the window41. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto, andthe object 40 may be displayed on a left or right frame of the window 41or on a certain area within the window 41.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the device 1000 may use a ribbonand/or object linking and embedding (OLE) in order to display the object40 representing the windows included in the work group on the upperframe of the window 41. The ribbon is a UI for constructing additionalmenus within a window frame by using an OS. The ribbon may providefunctions of an application as a command collection formed of a seriesof tabs. OLE is a technology of linking different applications, andallows an application to perform an operation of another application.

Referring to FIG. 4B, according to another exemplary embodiment, thedevice 1000 may set a work group of windows by using a specialapplication. A special application for setting and displaying a windowwork group (hereinafter, a work group management application) may beimplemented independently from an OS of the device 1000, or may beadditionally implemented via a module having a management function, suchas production, deletion, or switching of a window, within the OS.

The device 1000 may display a window 43 corresponding to the work groupmanagement application on a window 42 included in the work group suchthat window 43 is displayed on top of or overlaps with window 42. Thus,at least one object representing the windows included in the work groupmay be displayed on the window 43 corresponding to the work groupmanagement application. When one of the displayed objects is selected, awindow corresponding to the selected object may be displayed on thescreen.

Referring to FIG. 5, the device 1000 may display an object 50representing windows included in a work group, on an upper frame of awindow 51. The object 50 representing windows may include an object 52corresponding to each window included in a work group, and objects 53,54, and 55 respectively representing work groups.

When the objects 53, 54, and 55, which represent work groups and aredisplayed within a window, are selected, the device 1000 may display allof the windows included in each of the work groups. When the objects 53,54, and 55 representing work groups are selected, objects representingwindows included in the selected work groups may be displayed.

For example, when a work group including the currently-displayed window51 is a work group A 53, the device 1000 may display the object 52representing the windows included in the work group A 53. When theobjects 54 and 55 representing the work groups other than the work groupA 53 are selected, objects representing the windows included in theother work groups may be displayed within the window 51. In anotherexample, when the objects 54 and 55 respectively representing the workgroups other than the work group A are selected, at least one of thewindows included in the work group B 54 and the work group C 55 may bedisplayed on the screen.

In another example, when the object 53, 54, and 55 representing workgroups are selected, the device 1000 may perform an operation that ispreset for convenience of a user. For example, when one of the objects53, 54, and 55 displayed on the screen of the device 1000 is selected, awindow that has been the most recently displayed from among the windowsincluded in the selected work group may be activated and displayed onthe screen.

In another example, when a current work group is switched to anotherwork group, the device 1000 may store a layout of windows displayed onthe screen for the current work group. Accordingly, when the device 1000switches back to the previous current work group from the other workgroup and displays the windows included in the current work group, thedevice 1000 may restore the stored layout.

The device 1000 may store not only a state of a work group but also acurrent work state of a window that is deactivated during switchingbetween windows included in the work group. For example, when a specificwindow is deactivated for switch between windows included in a workgroup, the work group management application may store a current state(e.g., a scroll location and a cursor location) of the deactivatedwindow and restore the stored current state when the window is activatedlater.

Although the objects 40 and 50 are displayed as icons corresponding tothe windows included in each work group in FIG. 4A-5, the objects 40 and50 may be displayed as texts and thumbnails representing the windows.Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are limited thereto, and objectsdisplayed by the device 1000 may have any form as long as it enables auser to recognize what window a displayed object corresponds to.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of displaying objects representing thewindows included in a work group in the form of tabs, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the device 1000 may display at least one object 60representing the windows included in a work group, in the form of a tabon a window 61. Accordingly, the device 1000 is able to switch a screenimage between windows corresponding to works that are executed via anapplication, by using the tabs, and is also able to switch a screenimage between windows corresponding to works that are executed viadifferent applications included in a work group by using tabs.

The method of setting and displaying a window work group described abovewith reference to FIGS. 4A-6A may be provided via an OS or via a workgroup management application. Whether a work group is used, whether awork group is automatically produced, whether work groups areautomatically arranged, a work group displaying method, the maximumnumber of work groups which are to be used, and the like may be setaccording to an input of a user.

For example, FIG. 6B illustrates a work group setting screen image 62according to an exemplary embodiment.

For example, the work group setting screen image 62 may include a menu63 for determining use or non-use of a work group, a menu 64 fordetermining automatic or manual production of a work group, a menu 65for determining automatic or manual arrangement of work groups, a menu66 for determining a work group displaying method, and a menu 67 fordetermining the maximum number of work groups which are to be used.

The device 1000 may receive a setting of whether to use a work group,via the menu 63 for determining use or non-use of a work group. When thesetting of whether to use a work group is set as ON, an objectrepresenting the work group may be displayed on a window frame.

The device 1000 may receive a setting of whether to automaticallyproduce a work group, via the menu 64 for determining whether toautomatically produce a work group. When the setting of whether toautomatically produce a work group is set as ON, windows may beclassified based on the attributes of the windows and the classifiedwindows may be automatically determined as predetermined work groups, aswill be described later with reference to FIGS. 26-39. A criterion forclassifying the windows into the predetermined work groups may be set.

The device 1000 may determine whether to automatically arrange workgroups in an ascending or descending order, via the menu 65 fordetermining whether to automatically arrange work groups.

The device 1000 may receive setting of an area on the screen on which awork group is to be displayed and a manner in which the work group is tobe displayed, via the menu 66 for determining a method of displaying awork group. For example, it may be determined whether to display a workgroup within a window frame or a special area.

The device 1000 may receive setting of the maximum number of work groupswhich are to be used, via the menu 67 for determining the maximum numberof work groups.

Although an object corresponding to a work group is displayed within awindow in FIGS. 2-6B, exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are notlimited thereto.

A method of switching displays of windows included in a work group byselecting an object representing a window included in the work group ona certain area of the device 1000 will now be described in detail withreference to FIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of switching between windows includedin a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Since operations S710 through S730 are the same as operations S210through S230 of FIG. 2, only differences between the method of FIG. 7and the method of FIG. 2 will be described here below.

Referring to FIG. 7, in operation S710, the device 1000 may determine aworking group including windows of a plurality of applications.

In operation S720, the device 1000 may display at least one of thewindows included in the determined work group.

In operation S730, the device 1000 may display at least one objectrepresenting the windows included in the determined work group. Theobject representing the windows included in the determined working groupmay be displayed on a certain area on the upper, lower, left, or rightside of the screen of the device 1000. For example, the at least oneobject representing the windows included in the determined work groupmay be displayed on a tray window of an OS installed in the device 1000.

In operation S740, the device 1000 determines whether one of thedisplayed objects is selected. If one of the displayed objects isselected, the method proceeds to operation S750. Otherwise, the methodis fed back to operation S720 to continuously display the currentwindow.

In operation S750, the device 1000 may display a window corresponding tothe selected object.

Accordingly, when a specific object corresponding to a window includedin a work group is selected, the device 1000 may switch a current windowto a window corresponding to the selected object.

FIG. 8A shows an example of a method of switching between windows withina work group, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the device 1000 may display, on anarea on the screen thereof, objects 81 and 82 respectively representingwork groups, and at least one of objects 83 and 84 representing a windowincluded in a work group.

For example, referring to FIG. 8A, the device 1000 may display theobjects 81 and 82 respectively representing first and second groups on atray window 80 on the screen. When a user selects the first group, theobjects 83 and 84 representing the windows of the first group may befurther displayed. When the object 83 is selected from the objects 83and 84, a currently-displayed window 86 may be switched to a window 85corresponding to the selected object 83.

Thus, the device 1000 may classify objects representing the windowsincluded in work groups and provide the classified objects to a user,via the tray window 80, and thus the user may easily switch between thewindows classified into the work groups.

In another example, when the object 83 is selected from the objects 83and 84, the currently-displayed window 86 may be maintained, and onlythe contents of the work displayed on the window 86 may be refreshedwith a screen image corresponding to the selected object 83.

For example, FIG. 8B shows another example of a method of switchingbetween windows within a work group, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8B, the device 1000 may display, on a displayed window87, at least one object 88 representing the other windows included in awork group. When at least one of the displayed objects 88 is selected, ascreen image within the window 87 currently being displayed on thedevice 1000 may be refreshed with a screen image 89 representing a workcorresponding to the selected object.

FIG. 9 shows another example of a method of switching between windowswithin a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the device 1000 may display objects 91 and 92representing work groups (e.g., first and second groups), in the form ofthumbnails on a tray window 90 on the screen. A thumbnail used hereinmay denote a reduced-size version of a screen image on which a window isactivated and displayed. For example, in FIG. 8A, the objects 81 and 82representing the work groups and the objects 83 and 84 representing thewindows included in a work group are displayed in a text form. However,referring to FIG. 9, the device 1000 may display objects 93, 94, and 95corresponding to the windows included in the first work group, asthumbnails of the windows. Accordingly, a user may intuitively selectwindows 96 and 97 included in a work group and switch them.

Although an object representing a work group is displayed on a traywindow on the screen of the device 1000 in FIGS. 8A-9, exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto, and the objectrepresenting a work group may be displayed on an area within the screenof the device 1000 in the form of a popup window. For example, theobject representing the work group may be displayed on a certain areawithin a window, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A-6.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method of displaying objects representingwindows included in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Since descriptions of operations S1010 through S1050 are similar to thedescriptions given above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, only mattersof the method of FIG. 10 different from the methods of FIGS. 2 and 7will now be described herein.

In operation S1010, the device 1000 according to an exemplary embodimentmay determine a work group including a plurality of windows.

In operation S1020, the device 1000 may display at least one of thewindows included in the determined work group.

In operation S1030, the device 1000 may display at least one objectrepresenting the windows included in the determined work group withinthe displayed window, during execution of a certain function. Thecertain function may denote a text edition command within a window, suchas moving of a cursor, inputting of a command for a screen image switch,copying, cutting, or pasting. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosureare not limited thereto, and the certain function may denote a presetoperation or conditions for displaying objects representing windows.

In operation S1040, as the at least one object representing the windowsincluded in the determined work group is displayed, the device 1000 maydetermine whether a certain object is selected from the displayedobjects. When a certain object is selected from the displayed objects,the device 1000 may display a window corresponding to the selectedobject, in operation S1050. On the other hand, when a certain object isnot selected from the displayed objects, the method is fed back tooperation S1020, and thus the device 1000 may continuously display thecurrent window.

A method of displaying objects representing windows included in a workgroup during execution of a certain function will now be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 11 and 14.

FIG. 11 shows an example of displaying objects representing windowsincluded in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, the device 1000 may display an object 112representing the windows included in a work group, when a mouse cursorwhich moves based on a user input is moved to a certain location 111 ona displayed window 110. The particular location 111 may be on an upperor lower frame of the window 110.

In another example, the device 1000 may display the window 110 and anobject 113 representing that the object 112 representing the windowsincluded in the work group is hidden. Only when the mouse cursorselects, based on a user input, the object 113 representing that theobject 112 representing the windows included in the work group ishidden, the device 1000 may display the object 112 representing thewindows included in the work group.

FIG. 12 shows another example of displaying objects representing windowsincluded in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, in response to a command for a screen imageswitch, the device 1000 may display an object 121 representing windowsincluded in a work group, on a certain area of the screen thereof. Thedisplayed object 121 may represent the windows included in a work groupto which a currently-displayed window 120 belongs. The device 1000 mayshade and display the currently-displayed window 120 when the object 121is displayed.

In another example, in response to a command for a screen image switch,the device 1000 may display the object 121 representing the windowsincluded in a work group, and an object 122 representing all windowsthat are currently being executed in the device 1000.

Accordingly, a user may select not only a window included in a workgroup to which a currently-displayed window belongs, but also one of thewindows currently being executed in the device 1000.

FIG. 13 shows another example of displaying objects representing windowsincluded in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment.

For example, referring to FIG. 13, when a specific text within adisplayed window 130 is copied, the device 1000 may display arecommendation list 131 of at least one work to which the copied text isto be moved. The recommendation list 131 may include an objectcorresponding to at least one of the windows included in the work group.

Accordingly, when a specific object is selected from the objectsdisplayed on the recommendation list 131, the device 1000 may display awindow corresponding to the selected object so that the copied text maybe immediately pasted to the window. FIG. 13 describes only a case ofcopying a text, but exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may beapplied to a case of copying and cutting an image.

FIG. 14 shows another example of displaying objects representing windowsincluded in a work group during execution of a certain function,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 14, even when the device 1000 is a mobile terminal,the above-described method of FIG. 13 may also be applied. In otherwords, when a specific text included in a window 140 of the device 1000is copied, the device 1000 may display a recommendation list 143 of atleast one work group to which the copied text is to be moved, within thewindow 140. The recommendation list 143 may include an objectcorresponding to at least one of the windows included in the work group.Accordingly, when a specific object is selected from the objectsdisplayed on the recommendation list 143, the device 1000 may display awindow 141 corresponding to the selected object so that the copied textmay be pasted to the displayed window 141.

According to the above-described exemplary embodiments, a single windowcorresponding to a selected object is displayed. However, exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto, and all of thewindows included in a selected work group may be displayed at a time.

An example of simultaneously displaying all of the windows included in awork group will now be described with reference to FIGS. 15-18.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a method of displaying all of the windowsincluded in a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Since descriptions of operations S1510 through S1540 are similar to thedescriptions of operations S1010 through S1050 of FIG. 10, only mattersof the method of FIG. 15 different from the method of FIG. 10 will nowbe described herein.

In operation S1510, the device 1000 according to an exemplary embodimentmay determine a work group including windows of a plurality ofapplications.

In operation S1520, the device 1000 may display an object representingthe determined work group. The object representing the determined workgroup may include a plurality of objects representing the windowsincluded in the determined work group.

In operation S1530, as the object representing the determined work groupis displayed, the device 1000 may determine whether the displayed objectis selected. When the object representing the determined work group isselected, the method proceeds to operation S1540 to display all of theobjects included in the work group. On the other hand, when the objectrepresenting the determined work group is not selected, the methodreturns to operation S1520, and thus the device 1000 may continuouslydisplay the object representing the determined work group.

A method of displaying all of the windows included in a work group as anobject representing the work group is selected will now be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 16-18.

FIG. 16 shows an example of displaying all of the windows included in awork group, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 16, the device 1000 according to an exemplaryembodiment may display objects 165, 166, and 167 representing determinedwork groups. The objects 165, 166, and 167 representing the determinedwork groups may be displayed on an area on the screen or displayedtogether within a displayed window. In another example, the objects 165,166, and 167 may be displayed while a certain function is beingexecuted.

The objects 165, 166, and 167 representing workgroups may includeobjects 160, 161, and 162 representing the windows included in the workgroups. For example, the object 165 representing a first work group mayinclude the object 160 representing a first window 160-1 of a firstapplication and the objects 161 and 162 representing windows 161-1 and162-1 of a second application.

Thus, when the object 165 representing the first work group is selectedbased on a user input, the device 1000 may display all of the windows160-1, 161-1 and 162-1 included in the object 165 representing the firstgroup.

Referring to FIG. 16, the device 1000 according to an exemplaryembodiment may display the object 165 representing the first work group,as a thumbnail of a screen image on which all of the windows included inthe first work group are displayed. In other words, the device 1000 mayset all of the windows displayed on a current screen image as a workgroup while a layout of the windows is maintained, and display the setwork group as an object representing the work group. Thus, when anobject representing a work group is selected and the windows included inthe work group are displayed, a layout of the windows when the workgroup is set may be restored. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosureare not limited thereto, and, when the windows included in a work groupare displayed, the windows may be arranged in a preset manner. When thedevice 1000 displays the windows as thumbnails, not only the layout ofthe windows but also statuses of works (e.g., a page which is beingedited) executed in the windows may be stored, and the stored statusesof the works may be retrieved when an object corresponding to thewindows is selected and the windows corresponding to the selected objectare displayed, and thus a user may continuously perform a work.

FIG. 17 shows another example of displaying all of the windows includedin a work group, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 17, the device 1000 according to an exemplaryembodiment may display objects 175, 176, and 177 representing determinedwork groups, similar to FIG. 16. The objects 175, 176, and 177representing working groups may include objects 170, 171, and 172representing the windows 170-1, 171-1 and 172-1 included in the workgroups.

When the object 175 representing a first work group is selected based ona user input, the device 1000 may arrange the windows 170-1, 171-1, and172-1 included in the first group in a predetermined manner and displaythe arranged windows 170-1, 171-1, and 172-1 on the screen thereof.

For example, the device 1000 may divide the screen thereof in a certainratio and display all of the windows included in a work group on thedivided screen. The certain ratio may be determined according to thesizes of contents included in the windows or according to the number ofwindows included in the work group.

FIG. 18 shows an example in which a mobile terminal according to anexemplary embodiment manages each work group in the form of a folder.

Referring to FIG. 18, in a device such as a mobile terminal, oneapplication provides only one window, and thus a work group may denotean application group.

The device 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment may manage eachwork group in the form of a folder. The folder is a box which stores aprogram or a file on a GUI, and thus may denote an object displayed onthe screen as an icon having the same shape as an actual file folder.For example, a folder may be used to schematically manage severalprograms or files stored in a memory and thus may serve as a directory.When a certain folder is selected, the selected folder is opened, and afile list contained in the folder may be displayed.

For example, objects 181 and 182 representing at least one work which isto be executed in the device 1000 may be included in a folder-shapedwork group to thereby determine a work group. When an object 180representing a work group displayed as a folder is selected based on auser input, the device 1000 may display the objects 181 and 182representing the works included in the work group. When the object 180representing a work group is selected in a particular manner (e.g.,double click or long click), the device 1000 may arrange all of worksincluded in the work group on the screen thereof in a preset manner anddisplay the works. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the device1000 may equally divide the screen thereof and arrange the windows 183and 184 on the divided screen.

As described above, a user may easily display the windows included in awork group on the screen.

Exemplary embodiments of selecting a working group will now be describedin detail with reference to FIGS. 19-39.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based ona user input, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 19, in operation S1910, the device 1000 may display awork group area representing a working group. For example, the workgroup area may be displayed on a certain area on the screen of thedevice 1000. In another example the work group area may be displayed ona window that is currently being displayed on the screen.

In operation S1920, the device 1000 may select a window based on a userinput. A window corresponding to a work that is being executed via anapplication may be displayed on the screen of the device 1000 or may bedeactivated and displayed on one side of the screen as an objectcorresponding to the window. Examples of the user input may include acursor movement via a mouse or a touch input, drag & drop, and a swipe.Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto, and theuser input may be any input enabling a user to control the device 1000.Thus, a gesture, an eye movement, and voice recognition may also be auser input.

In operation S1930, the device 1000 may add an object representing theselected window to the work group area.

For example, based on a user input, the object representing the selectedwindow may be dragged and dropped to be added to the displayed workgroup area. In another example, based on a user input, a windowdisplayed on the device 1000 may be dragged and dropped to be added tothe work group area, or an object representing a window may be added tothe work group area by setting each window such that the attributesthereof correspond to a certain work group.

A method of determining a work group based on a user input will now bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 20A-25B.

FIG. 20A shows an example of a method of determining a work group basedon a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 20A illustrates a case in which three windows 210, 211, and 212 arebeing executed via a first application, three windows 220, 221, and 222are being executed via a second application, and one window 230 is beingexecuted via a third application. First through N-th groups 201 through203 represent working groups.

The device 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment may determine awork group by adding, to a work group area, at least one from among aplurality of windows that are currently being executed via differentapplications. For example, based on a user input, an object 210-1representing the first window 210 of the first application is moved toan area of the first group 201 and is thus added to the first group 201.Similarly, one of the windows 220, 221 and 222 of the second applicationand the window 230 of the third application may be moved to one area ofareas of the first through N-th groups 201 through 203 and thus added toa particular work group of the area. The user input to add theapplication or window to the word group may be one from among draggingthe application to the work group, touching and holding the applicationand then dragging the application to the work group, double tapping theapplication and tapping the work group, touching the application and thework group area simultaneously for a predetermined period of time.According to an exemplary embodiment, the application may be removedfrom a work group by performing at least one from among dragging theapplication away from the work group, touching and holding theapplication in the work group and then dragging the application awayfrom the work group, double tapping the application and tapping the workgroup, touching the application and the work group area simultaneouslyfor a predetermined period of time.

Although work groups are named as first through N-th groups forconvenience of explanation in FIG. 20A, a user may directly input namesfor the work groups, or the names of the work groups may beautomatically set by using information about the windows included ineach work group.

For example, referring to FIG. 20B, the device 1000 may determine a workgroup name 204 as a character or a number selected by an input of auser. A previously determined work group name may be edited.

In another example, the device 1000 may determine a name of each workgroup, based on the attributes of works included in the work group.

Referring to FIG. 20C, a work group name 204 may be determined based onan attribute (e.g., a writing time) that is common to target files ofwindows 205 and 206 determined as a work group. The common attribute maybe acquired from metadata 207 and 208 about the target files of thewindows 205 and 206 included in the work group. Content of a target filemay be displayed on a window corresponding to the target file.

Although the work group name 204 is determined based on a writing timein FIG. 20C, a work group name may be determined based on a commonattribute such as a file name, a writer, an access time, a writingdevice, or a storage location.

As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 26-39, a work groupmay be automatically determined according to a particular attribute ofwindows. In this case, the work group name 204 may depend on the causeof automatic production of a work group.

FIG. 21 illustrates an example in which windows are added to a pluralityof work groups, namely, first through N-th work groups 201 through 203,based on a user input.

Referring to FIG. 21, a first window 210 of a first application and afirst window 220 and a second window 221 of a second application may beadded to the first group 201. The first window 220 of the firstapplication and a window 230 of a third application may be added to thesecond group 202. Each of the first through N-th work groups 201, 202,and 203 may include not only windows that are performed via differentapplications, but also include the windows 220 and 221 that are executedvia an identical application but display different works. The window 220may be included in both the first and second work groups 201 and 202.

According to an exemplary embodiment, objects representing the windows210, 220, 221, and 230 added to the work groups 201, 202, and 203 may bedisplayed according to a layout of windows when the windows 210, 220,221, and 230 are displayed on the screen of the device 1000.Accordingly, when one of the objects representing the windows 210, 220,221, and 230 is selected, a window corresponding to the selected objectmay be displayed such that the location of the selected object on a workgroup area may correspond to the location of the window 210, 220, 221,or 230 on the screen of the device 1000. According to another exemplaryembodiment, a layout of objects representing the windows 210, 220, 221,and 230 added to the work groups 201, 202, and 203 may represent alayout of windows when the windows 210, 220, 221, and 230 are displayedon the screen of the device 1000.

According to an exemplary embodiment, in FIG. 21, the windows 210, 220,221, and 230 indicated by dashed lines may represent deactivated states.For example, the first window 210 of the first application beingdisplayed on the screen may be deactivated while being added to thefirst group 201.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the windows 210, 220, 221, and 230indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 21 may represent that the windows 210,220, 221, and 230 are concluded. For example, when the first window 210of the first application is a window that is being displayed to edit adocument, the device 1000 may store a current state of the first window210 and conclude the first window 210 when the first window 210 is beingadded to the first group 201. Later, the first window 210 may beexecuted when the object representing the first window 210 is selectedfrom the first group 201. When the first window 210 is being executed,the device 1000 may retrieve the stored current state and the firstwindow 210 may display the stored current state on the screen of thedevice 1000. Data related with a concluded window is preloaded tomemory, and, when the concluded window is selected, the selected windowmay be fast executed and displayed on the screen of the device 1000.

In another example, when the first window 210 of the first applicationis a work window for playing back music and at least one of the windows210, 221, and 222 included in the first group 201 is activated, thefirst window 210 may not be concluded and may operate (plays back music)in the background. When a window included in the second group 202 isactivated, the first window 210 may store a current state thereof and beconcluded (stop playing back music). When at least one of the windows210, 221, and 222 included in the first group 201 is activated again,the device 1000 may execute the first window 210 of the firstapplication to continuously play back the music that played back whenthe first window 210 was concluded.

In another example, a window that is added to a work group area may be awindow of a not-yet-executed application. For example, an objectrepresenting an application may be added to a work group. Accordingly,an object representing an application within a work group area isselected, the application corresponding to the selected object may beexecuted and thus a window may be displayed.

FIG. 22 shows another example of a method of determining a work groupbased on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 22, a window 223 may be included in a plurality ofwork groups 224, 225 and 226.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the window 223 displayed onthe screen is added to the work group 224 based on a user input signal,the window 223 may be deactivated. However, when a work pin is used,even when the window 223 is added to the work group 224, the displaystatus of the window 223 may be maintained. For example, when an object227 representing a work pin is added to the window 223 currently beingdisplayed on the screen as illustrated in FIG. 22, the window 223 maynot be deactivated and may be continuously displayed on the screen ofthe device 1000 even when being added to the work group 224.Accordingly, the window 223 may also be added to the work group 225,based on another user input.

FIG. 23 shows another example of a method of determining a work groupbased on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 23, the device 1000 may move a window 235 displayed onthe screen to work group areas 232, 233, and 234 displayed on a traywindow 231 to thereby determine work groups.

For example, when the device 1000 receives a user input of moving thewindow 235 displayed on the screen to the first work group 232 from auser, the device 1000 may add the window 235 to the first work group232.

Although the work groups 232, 233, and 234 are positioned on a traywindow of the screen of the device 1000 in FIG. 23, exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto. The location ofthe work groups 232, 233, and 234 may denote be an area on which theobject 40 of FIG. 4, the object 50 of FIG. 5, the object 60 of FIG. 6,or the object 121 of FIG. 12 is displayed. When the window 235 is movedto the first work group 232 based on a user input, the window 235 may bedisplayed as an object 236.

In another example, when the window 235 displayed on the screen is movedto the work groups 232, 233, and 234, the device 1000 may display apopup window asking whether the window 235 is to be included in the workgroup 232. Accordingly, the window 235 may be added to the work group232, based on another user input.

FIGS. 24A and 24B show another example of a method of determining a workgroup based on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 24A, the device 1000 may determine a work group 242 bymoving a first window 245 displayed on the screen to an area of a secondwindow 244.

For example, in response to an input of moving the first window 245 tothe area of the second window 244, the device 1000 may add the firstwindow 245 to the work group 242 including the second window 244.

Accordingly, referring to FIG. 24B, an object 246 representing the firstwindow 245 may be added to the work group 242 including the secondwindow 244.

Before the second window 244 is determined to be included in the workgroup 242, the device 1000 may produce a new work group and add thefirst window 245 and the second window 244 to the new work group.

In another example, in response to an input of moving the first window245 to the area of the second window 244 (e.g., a drag-and-drop action),the device 1000 may display a popup window asking whether to add thefirst window 245 to the work group 242 including the second window 244.When an option for adding the first window 245 to the work group 242 isselected from the displayed popup window based on a user input, theobject 246 representing the first window 245 may be added to the workgroup 242 including the second window 244, as illustrated in FIG. 24B.

FIGS. 25A and 25B show another example of a method of determining a workgroup based on a user input, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 25A, the device 1000 may display objects 251, 252, and253 representing the windows of currently-executed applications on anarea 250 of the screen. The device 1000 may determine a work group bymoving the objects 251, 252, and 253, which represent the windows of thecurrently-executed application and are displayed on the area 250, to anarea of a window 254.

The device 1000 may move the object 251 representing the windows of afirst application to an area on which the window 254 of a secondapplication is displayed, based on a user input, thereby adding a window255 of the first application to a work group 256 to which the window 254of the second application belongs.

For example, referring to FIG. 25B, the device 1000 may add an object257 representing the windows of the first application to the work group256 to which the window 254 of the second application belongs, by moving(e.g., dragging-and-dropping) the object 251 representing the windows ofthe first application to the area on which the window 254 of the secondapplication is displayed. In other words, the window 255 of the firstapplication may be added to the work group 256 to which the window 254of the second application belongs.

Before the window 254 of the second application is included in the workgroup 256, the device 1000 may produce a new work group and add thewindow 255 of the first application to the new work group.

In another example, in response to an input of moving the window 255 ofthe first application to the area of the window 254 of the secondapplication, the device 1000 may display a popup window asking whetherto add the window 255 of the first application to the work group 256including the window 254 of the second application. When an option foradding the window 255 of the first application to the work group 256 isselected from the displayed popup window based on a user input, thedevice 1000 may add the object 257 representing the windows of the firstapplication to the work group 256 including the window 254 of the secondapplication, as illustrated in FIG. 25B.

A method of determining a work group based on attribute information ofwindows will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 26-37.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onattribute information of windows, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 26, in operation S2610, the device 1000 may acquirepieces of attribute information of the windows of a plurality ofapplications. The pieces of attribute information of the windows mayinclude file names, writing times, writing devices, or storage locationsof files associated with the windows. Alternatively, the pieces ofattribute information of the windows may include a window access time orthe number of times a window switch is performed. The pieces ofattribute information may include the windows, applications, or jobsfrom which the window has received information (e.g., copied text,copied link, etc.) or to which the window has sent information (e.g.,copied text, copied link, etc.).

In operation S2620, the device 1000 may classify the windows into atleast one work group, based on the acquired pieces of attributeinformation of the windows. For example, in a mode of automaticallydetermining a work group, the device 1000 may acquire the attributes ofa plurality of currently-executed windows and classify the windows intoa predetermined number of groups based on the acquired attributes of thewindows. The maximum number of groups into which the windows areclassified may be limited.

FIG. 27 shows a method of determining a work group based on attributeinformation of windows, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 27 illustrates a case in which three windows 274-1, 274-2, and274-3 are being executed via a first application, three windows 275-1,275-2, and 275-3 are being executed via a second application, and twowindows 276-1 and 276-2 are being executed via a third application.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the device 1000 may acquire piecesof attribute information of currently-executed windows and arbitrarilyproduce first through N-th groups 271 through 273 based on the pieces ofattribute information. The device 1000 may add the first window 274-1 ofthe first application and the first window 275-1 and the second window275-2 of the second application to the first group 271 produced based onthe acquired pieces of attribute information. The device 1000 may addthe third window 275-3 of the second application and the first window276-1 of the third application to the second group 272.

Accordingly, the device 1000 may classify, into a specific work group,windows which are determined to be highly relevant to one another basedon the pieces of attribute information of the windows, therebyincreasing the convenience of users.

An exemplary embodiment of determining a work group based on attributeinformation of windows will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 28-35.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onthe names of files associated with windows, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 28, in operation S2810, the device 1000 may acquirethe names of files associated with the windows of a plurality ofapplications. For example, the device 1000 may write and edit documentfiles with a title including a specific word, such as “2014 businessreport”, via a plurality of application work windows, in order toperform work A. The document files with a title including a specificword may be written and edited via windows of different applicationsaccording to use purposes thereof.

In operation S2820, the device 1000 may classify windows that are highlyrelevant to one another in terms of file name from among the windows ofthe plurality of applications, into an identical work group, based onthe acquired file names of the files.

For example, the device 1000 may determine windows corresponding tofiles having names including the word “2014 business report”, regardlessof the types of applications, from among currently-executed windows tobe mutually relevant to one another, and thus classify the windowscorresponding to the mutually relevant files into a certain group.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onthe writing times of files associated with windows, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 29, in operation S2910, the device 1000 may acquirewriting times of files associated with the windows of a plurality ofapplications. For example, a writing time of a currently-written filemay be acquired from a window of a document writing application.

In operation S2920, the device 1000 may classify windows that are highlyrelevant to one another in terms of writing time from among the windowsof the plurality of applications, into an identical work group, based onthe acquired writing times of the files.

For example, the device 1000 may classify windows associated with filesthat were written within a predetermined time range, regardless of thetypes of applications, from among currently executed windows, into acertain group.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based ondevices in which files associated with windows are written, according toan exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 30, in operation S3010, the device 1000 may acquireinformation about devices in which files associated with the windows ofa plurality of applications have been written. For example, informationabout a device in which a file has been initially currently written maybe acquired from a window of a document writing application.

In operation S3020, the device 1000 may classify windows that are highlyrelevant to one another in terms of file-written device information fromamong the windows of the plurality of applications, into an identicalwork group, based on the acquired file-written device information.

For example, the device 1000 may classify windows associated with filesthat have been written by an identical device regardless of the types ofapplications from among currently-executed windows, into a certaingroup.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onstorage locations of files associated with windows, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 31, in operation S3110, the device 1000 may acquirestorage locations of files associated with the windows of a plurality ofapplications. The storage locations may denote software storagelocations such as folders, physical storage locations such as auniversal serial bus (USB), or geometrical locations where the device1000 writes or corrects files.

A folder used herein is a box which stores a program or a file on a GUI,and thus may denote an object displayed on the screen as an icon havingthe same shape as an actual file folder. For example, a folder may beused to schematically manage several programs or files stored in amemory and thus may perform the function of a directory. When a certainfolder is selected, the selected folder is opened, and a file listcontained in the folder may be displayed.

For example, the device 1000 may acquire information about a folder thatstores a currently-written file, from a window of a document writingapplication.

In another example, the device 1000 may acquire information about ageometrical location where an image file being displayed has beenwritten or corrected (e.g., a location on a map of the device 1000 whena file is written or a relative location, such as a house, an office, ora library, when a file is written), on a window of an image-displayapplication.

In operation S3120, the device 1000 may classify windows that are highlyrelevant to one another in terms of storage location from among thewindows of the plurality of applications, into an identical work group,based on the acquired storage locations of the files.

For example, the device 1000 may classify windows that have executedfiles stored in an identical folder from among currently-executedwindows, into a certain group.

In another example, the device 1000 may classify windows that haveexecuted files stored in a USB drive from among currently-executedwindows, into a certain group.

In another example, the device 1000 may classify windows correspondingto files written or corrected at close geometrical locations from amongfiles associated with currently-executed windows, into a certain group.

FIG. 32A shows an example of a method of determining a work group basedon storage locations of files associated with windows, according to anexemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 32A, a single folder 323 may include a plurality offiles 324, 325, 326, and 327, each of which may be executed via at leastone application. For example, the file 324 may be executed via aspreadsheet application, the file 325 may be executed via a wordprocessor application, and the files 326 and 327 may be executed via apresentation application. Since a folder is generally produced in unitsof works, files included in an identical folder are highly likely to berelevant to one another.

The device 1000 may determine windows respectively corresponding to thefiles 324, 325, 326, and 327 included in the single folder 323, as onework group.

For example, when the window of a work in which the file 327 included inthe folder 323 is executed is included in a certain work group, thedevice 1000 may add the windows corresponding to the files 324, 325, and326 included in the folder 323 to the work group.

In another example, when the file 327 included in the folder 323 isexecuted and a window corresponding to the executed file 327 isdisplayed, the device 1000 may add the other files 324, 325, and 326included in the folder 323 and not yet executed to a work group. Inother words, a work group may be determined even before the windowsassociated with the other files 324, 325, and 326 included in the folder323 are executed.

FIG. 32B illustrates an example in which objects representing windowscorresponding to the files 324, 325, 326, and 327 included in the singlefolder 323 are determined as a work group 329.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the device 1000 may simultaneouslydisplay objects 324-1, 325-1, 326-1, and 327-1 representing the files324, 325, 326 and 327 included in the folder 323, within a window 328displayed since the file 327 included in the folder 323 is executed. Inthis case, the objects 324-1, 325-1, and 326-1 representing the files324, 325, and 326 included in the folder 323 may representnot-yet-executed works.

In this case, when the objects 324-1, 325-1, and 326-1 are selected,files corresponding to the selected objects 324-1, 325-1, and 326-1 maybe executed, and windows corresponding to the executed files may bedisplayed on the device 1000. FIG. 33 shows another example of a methodof determining a work group based on storage locations of filesassociated with windows, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 33, when the device 1000 is a mobile terminal, themethod described above with reference to FIGS. 32A and 32B may also beapplied.

When applications 332, 333, 334, and 335 provided in the device 1000 areadded to a folder 331 based on an input of a user, the device 1000 maydetermine the applications 332, 333, 334, and 335 included in the folder331 as a work group.

For example, when the application 332 from among the applications 332,333, 334, and 335 included in the folder 331 is executed and a windowcorresponding to the application 332 is displayed, the device 1000 maydisplay on the displayed window an object for displaying the otherapplications 333, 334, and 335 included in the folder 331. In anotherexample, the device 1000 may execute all of the applications 332, 333,334, and 335 included in the folder 331 at one time and display a windowcorresponding to each application on the screen thereof.

In another example, when the application 332 from among the applications332, 333, 334, and 335 included in the folder 331 is executed, thedevice 1000 may upload the other applications 333, 334, and 335 tomemory in advance, and thus the time taken to execute the applications333, 334, and 335 within the folder 331 may be reduced. The memory maydenote a high-speed storage unit which temporarily stores some data of acurrently-executed application in order to reduce a transmission speeddifference or a transmission time difference corresponding to when acontroller and a storage unit transmit and receive data to or from eachother. For example, the memory may be random access memory (RAM) orcache.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based ontimes at which windows are accessed, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 34, in operation S3410, the device 1000 may acquireinformation about times at which the windows of a plurality ofapplications are accessed. For example, the access time information mayinclude information about the time when a currently-executed window isactivated, and information about the time when the currently-executedwindow is deactivated.

In operation S3420, the device 1000 may classify windows that are highlyrelevant to one another in terms of access time information from amongthe windows of the plurality of applications, into an identical workgroup, based on the acquired access time information. This is becausewindows for performing relevant works are highly likely to be executedor activated within similar time zones.

For example, the device 1000 may classify windows that have beenaccessed within a certain time period (e.g., 10 minutes) from among thewindows of a plurality of currently-executed applications, into anidentical work group.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a method of determining a work group based onwindow switch information of windows, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 35, in operation S3510, the device 1000 may acquirewindow switch information of the windows of a plurality of applications.For example, the window switch information may include the number oftimes a window is used, a period of time during which a window is used,and clipboard usage information.

In operation S3520, the device 1000 may classify windows that are highlyrelevant to one another from among the windows of the plurality ofapplications into an identical work group, based on the acquired windowswitch information. For example, the device 1000 may classify windowsthat are frequently switched into an identical work group. In anotherexample, the device 1000 may classify windows on which data switchesusing clipboards are frequently performed, into an identical work group.

In another example, the device 1000 may determine the order in whichobjects representing the windows of a plurality of applications alreadyincluded in a work group are displayed, based on the acquired windowswitch information. For example, when the device 1000 displays objectsrepresenting the windows included in a work group, the device 1000 maydisplay the objects representing the windows, in a descending order ofthe number of times a window is switched. Accordingly, a user mayconveniently perform a switch between windows that are frequently used.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a method of adding, to a work group, a windowof an application that is newly executed, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

In operation S3610, the device 1000 may acquire attributes of thewindows of a plurality of applications. The attributes of the windowsmay include file names, writing times, file-written devices, or storagelocations of files associated with the windows. Alternatively, theattributes of the windows may include a window access time or the numberof times a window switch is performed.

In operation S3620, the device 1000 may classify the windows into atleast one work group, based on the acquired attributes of the windows.The device 1000 may also acquire an attribute serving as a basis forclassifying the windows, in units of work groups.

In operation S3630, the device 1000 may acquire an attribute of a windowof a newly-executed application.

In operation S3640, the device 1000 may add the window of thenewly-executed application to a related work group, based on theacquired attribute of the window. For example, the device 1000 mayclassify windows related with at least one file stored in an identicalfolder into a work group related with the folder. Thereafter, when awindow related with the file within the folder is newly executed, thedevice 1000 may add the newly-executed window to the work group relatedwith the folder.

FIG. 37 shows an example of a flowchart of a method of adding, to a workgroup, a window of an application that is newly executed, according toan exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 37, the device 1000 may display objects 372, 373, and374 representing work groups, on an area 371 of the screen thereof. Theobjects 372, 373, and 374 representing working groups may includeobjects representing applications included in the work groups.

The device 1000 may acquire an attribute serving as a basis forclassifying windows, in units of work groups. When a window 375 of a newapplication is executed, the device 1000 may acquire an attribute of theexecuted window. Accordingly, when the acquired attribute of the window375 of the new application is related with at least one of the acquiredattributes of the work groups, the device 1000 may add the window of thenewly-executed application to the work group 373 related with thenewly-executed application.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart of a method of adding, to a work group, a windowof an application that is not included in the work group, according toan exemplary embodiment.

Operations S3810 through S3830 of FIG. 38 are similar to operationsS1910 through S1930 of FIG. 19, and thus a detailed description thereofwill be omitted.

In operation S3810, the device 1000 may display a work group arearepresenting a working group.

In operation S3820, the device 1000 may select a window based on a userinput.

In operation S3830, the device 1000 may add an object representing theselected window to the work group area.

In operation S3940, the device 1000 may recommend an object representinga window of an application related with at least one of the windowsincluded in the work group.

For example, when at least one work group is determined based on a userinput (manually), the device 1000 may acquire attribute information ofat least one of the windows included in the work group. The device 1000may also acquire attribute information of windows that are not includedin the work group.

The device 1000 may recommend an object representing a window of anapplication related with the work group from among the windows ofanother application, based on the attribute information of the windows.

For example, FIG. 39 shows a method of adding, to a work group, a windowof an application that is not included in the work group, according toan exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 39, the device 1000 may display objects 392 and 393representing work groups, on an area 391 of the screen thereof. Theobject 392 representing a work group may include objects 394, 395, and396 representing applications such as application 394-1 included in thework group. The device 1000 may display a window corresponding to theobject 394 from among the objects 394, 395, and 396 representing theapplications included in the work group, on the screen thereof.

The device 1000 may acquire attribute information of at least one windowfrom among windows of the applications included in the work group. Thedevice 1000 may also acquire attribute information of windows ofapplications that are not included in the work group.

The device 1000 may recommend the object 396 representing the window ofan application not included in the work group, based on the acquiredattribute information of the windows.

Accordingly, when the recommended object 396 representing the window ofthe application not included in the work group is selected based on auser input, the recommended object 396 may be applied to the work group.The recommended object 396 may represent an application that is notexecuted.

FIG. 40 illustrates an example of a method of adding, to work groups,windows of applications that are executed by a plurality of devices1000, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 40, a first device 400 may be executing windows 400-1and 400-2 of a plurality of applications, a second device 401 may beexecuting windows 401-1, 401-2, and 401-3 of a plurality ofapplications, and a third device 402 may be executing windows 402-1 and402-2 of a plurality of applications.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the first, second, and thirddevices 400, 401, and 402 are connected to one another, any one of thefirst, second, and third devices 400, 401, and 402 may check the windowsof applications that are being executed by the other devices connectedthereto, and the windows of the applications that are executed by thefirst, second, and third devices 400, 401, and 402 may be classifiedinto at least one work group, namely, work groups 403, 404, and 405. Inother words, the windows of the applications that are being executed bythe first, second, and third devices 400, 401, and 402 may be classifiedinto at least one work group. It will be easily understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains that themethods described above with reference to FIGS. 1-39 are applicable to amethod of grouping windows that are executed by a plurality of devices.

When the first device 400 from among the first, second, and thirddevices 400, 401, and 402 displays the work window 400-1 included in thework group 403, the first device 400 may display an object representingthe work group 403 on the displayed work window 400-1.

When an object, which is included in a window or an object representingthe work group 403, is selected in the first device 400, the window402-1 corresponding to the selected object may be displayed on the thirddevice 402.

When the object representing the work group 403 is selected in the firstdevice 400, the windows 400-1 and 402-1 included in the selected workgroup 403 may be displayed on the first and third devices 400 and 402,respectively.

Even when the second device 401 or the third device 402 displays a workwindow included in the work group 403, the second or third device 401 or402 may display the object representing the work group 403 on thedisplayed work window.

A device that is currently being used by a user may be determined fromamong the first, second, and third devices 400, 401, and 402, and theobject representing the work group 403 may be displayed only on thedevice determined to be currently being used by the user.

A method in which a plurality of devices display windows by using a workgroup will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 41A-45.

FIG. 41A is a flowchart of an example of a method in which a pluralityof devices display windows by using a work group, according to anexemplary embodiment.

In operation S4110, the device 1000 may select at least one work that isbeing executed via a first application.

In operation S4120, an external device 4000 may select at least one workthat is being executed via a second application.

Operations S4110 and S4120 of selecting the works that are respectivelybeing executed via the first application and the second application maybe performed based on inputs of a user to the device 1000 and/or theexternal device 4000.

In operation S4130, the external device 4000 may transmit informationabout the selected work of the second application to the device 1000.

In operation S4140, the device 1000 may determine a work group includingthe selected works and display an object representing a work included inthe determined work group. The device 1000 may add not only a work thatis being executed in the work group, but also an application work thatis not executed to the work group. In this case, an object representingthe not-executed application work may also be displayed.

When a window corresponding to a work included in a work group isdisplayed on the device 1000, an object representing the work includedin the work group may also be displayed on an area of the window.

In operation S4150, the device 1000 may receive a selection of aspecific object included in the work group.

In operation S4160, the device 1000 may determine whether the selectedspecific object is executed by the external device 4000. Based on aresult of the determination, the device 1000 may transmit an executionsignal of a work corresponding to the selected specific object to theexternal device 4000 (operation S4170), or the device 1000 may display awindow of the work corresponding to the selected object (operationS4180).

In operation S4190, in response to the execution signal of the workcorresponding to the selected object, the external device 4000 maydisplay the window corresponding to the selected object.

For example, FIG. 41B illustrates a method in which a plurality ofdevices display windows by using a work group, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 41B, the device 1000 may be a mobile device 420, andthe external device 4000 may be a glass-type wearable device 421.

When a certain window 422 is displayed on the mobile device 420, objects423 representing the other windows included in a work group to which thewindow 422 belongs may be display together.

When a certain object is selected from the objects 423 representing theother windows included in the work group, the mobile device 420 maydetermine whether a window corresponding to the selected object isexecuted by the glass-type wearable device 421. Based on a result of thedetermination, the mobile device 420 may transmit an execution signal ofthe window corresponding to the selected object to the glass-typewearable device 421. Accordingly, the glass-type wearable device 421 maydisplay a window 424 corresponding to the selected object.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart of another example of a method in which aplurality of devices display windows by using a work group, according toan exemplary embodiment.

In operation S4210, the device 1000 may determine a work group includingat least one window, based on a selection of a user or an automaticclassification. A method of determining a work group has already beendescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1-41B, and thus a detaileddescription thereof will be omitted here.

In operation S4220, the device 1000 may determine whether a user iscurrently using the device 1000. For example, when the device 1000includes a display, the device 1000 may determine whether the user looksat the display of the device 1000, to thereby determine whether the useris using the device 1000. Based on whether the device 1000 ismanipulated and whether the device 1000 moves, the device 1000 maydetermine whether the user is using the device 1000. If the device 1000is being used by the user, the method proceeds to operation S4230.Otherwise, the determination as to whether the device 1000 is being usedby a user may repeat.

In operation S4230, the device 1000 may display the determined workgroup in a predetermined form. For example, when a window correspondingto a work included the work group is displayed on the device 1000, anobject representing the work included in the work group may also bedisplayed on an area of the window.

In operation S4240, the device 1000 may receive a selection of an objectincluded in the displayed work group.

In operation S4250, the device 1000 may determine whether the selectedobject is executed by the external device 4000. Based on a result of thedetermination, the device 1000 may transmit an execution signal of awork corresponding to the selected object to the external device 4000(operation S4260), or the device 1000 may display a window of the workcorresponding to the selected object (operation S4270).

In response to the execution signal of the work corresponding to theselected object, the external device 4000 may display the windowcorresponding to the selected object, in operation S4275.

The external device 4000 may also display a work group according towhether the external device 4000 is being used by a user.

In operation S4215, the external device 4000 may determine a work groupincluding at least one window, based on a selection of a user or anautomatic classification. Alternatively, the external device 4000 mayreceive information about the work group determined by the device 1000.

In operation S4225, the external device 4000 may determine whether auser is currently using the external device 4000. For example, when theexternal device 4000 includes a display, the external device 4000 maydetermine whether the user looks at the display of the external device4000, to thereby determine whether the user is using the external device4000. Based on whether the external device 4000 is manipulated andwhether the external device 4000 moves, the external device 4000 maydetermine whether the user is using the external device 4000.

In operation S4235, the external device 4000 may display the determinedwork group in a predetermined form. For example, when a windowcorresponding to a work included in the work group is displayed on theexternal device 4000, an object representing the work included in thework group may also be displayed on an area of the window.

In operation S4245, the external device 4000 may receive a selection ofan object included in the displayed work group.

In operation S4255, the external device 4000 may determine whether theselected object is executed by the external device 4000. Based on aresult of the determination, the external device 4000 may transmit anexecution signal of the work corresponding to the selected object to thedevice 1000 (operation S4265), or the external device 4000 may display awindow of the work corresponding to the selected object (operationS4275).

In response to the execution signal of the work corresponding to theselected object, the device 1000 may display the window corresponding tothe selected object, in operation S4270.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart of another example of a method in which aplurality of devices display windows by using a work group, according toan exemplary embodiment.

In operation S4310, the device 1000 may select at least one work that isbeing executed via a first application.

In operation S4320, an external device 4000 may select at least one workthat is being executed via a second application.

Operations S4310 and S4320 of selecting the works that are respectivelybeing executed via the first application and the second application maybe performed based on inputs of a user to the device 1000 and theexternal device 4000.

In operation S4330, the external device 4000 may transmit informationabout the selected work that is being executed via the secondapplication, to the device 1000.

In operation S4340, the device 1000 may determine a work group includingthe selected works and display an object corresponding to the determinedwork group.

In operation S4350, the device 1000 may receive a selection of an objectrepresenting a certain work group.

In operation S4360, the device 1000 may determine whether a workincluded in the selected work group is executed by the external device4000. When it is determined that the work included in the selected workgroup is executed by the external device 4000, the device 1000 maytransmit an execution signal of the work included in the selected workgroup to the external device 4000, in operation S4370.

Accordingly, in operation S4380, the device 1000 may display a windowcorresponding to the work included in the selected work group. Inoperation S4890, the external device 4000 may display the windowcorresponding to the work included in the selected work group,simultaneously while the device 1000 displays the window correspondingto the work included in the selected work group in operation S4380.

For example, FIG. 44 illustrates another example of a method in which aplurality of devices display windows by using a work group, according toan exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 44, the device 1000 may be a mobile device 440, andthe external device 4000 may be a glass-type wearable device 441.

The mobile device 440 may display a window 443 of a currently-executedapplication and an object 442 representing a work group including awindow 444 of an application that is executed by the glass-type wearabledevice 441.

For example, the work group may include the window 443 of a galleryapplication and the window 444 of a camera application. Accordingly,when the object 442 representing the work group is selected, the mobiledevice 440 may display the window 443 of the gallery application, and atthe same time the glass-type wearable device 441 may display the window444 of the camera application. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosureare not limited thereto, and the object 442 representing the work groupmay be displayed on the glass-type wearable device 441.

FIG. 45 also illustrates another example of a method in which aplurality of devices display windows by using a work group, according toan exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 45, the device 1000 may be a home device 450, and theexternal device 4000 may be a wrist-type wearable device 451.

The home device 450 may display a window 453 of an application that isexecuted by the home device 450, and an object 452 representing a workgroup including a window 452 of an application that is executed by thewrist-type wearable device 451.

For example, the work group may include the window 453 of a remotemedical service application and the window 454 of a blood pressuremeasuring application. Accordingly, when the object 452 representing thework group is selected, the home device 450 may display the window 453of the remote medial service application, and the wrist-type wearabledevice 451 may display the window 454 of the blood pressure measuringapplication. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are not limitedthereto, and the object 452 representing the work group may be displayedon the wrist-type wearable device 451.

FIG. 46 is a schematic view for explaining a method of setting differentattributes for different work groups, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

The device 1000 may set an attribute that is common to the windowsincluded in each determined work group. For example, a special clipboard may be used for each work group. Alternatively, different externaldevices may be connected for different work groups.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 46, when the device 1000 determinesa plurality of first through N-th work groups 460, 461, and 462,different printers, namely, first and second printers 463 and 464, maybe connected to the first and second work groups 460 and 461,respectively. Accordingly, when a printout is performed with respect toa first window 460-1 of a first application included in the first workgroup 460, the first printer 463 is used. However, when a printout isperformed with respect to a second window 461-1 of the first applicationincluded in the second work group 461, the second printer 464 may beused.

In another example, a first monitor (not shown) may be connected to thefirst group 460 and a second monitor (not shown) may be connected to thesecond group 461, and thus windows may be displayed on differentscreens.

Thus, a user may differently apply a connection setting of an externaldevice to each work group, leading to an increase in work efficiency.

FIGS. 47-49 are block diagrams of the device 1000 and the externaldevice 4000 related with an exemplary embodiment. The device 1000 andthe external device 4000 are capable of performing the above-describedwindow displaying methods using work groups, and thus the device 1000and the external device 4000 may implement all exemplary embodiments forperforming the above-described window displaying methods using workgroups. Thus, although omitted, the matters described above withreference to FIGS. 1-46 may be performed via the device 1000 and theexternal device 4000 illustrated in FIGS. 47-49.

FIG. 47 is a block diagram of a device 1000 according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 47, the device 1000 may include an output unit 1200(e.g., a display, etc.), a processor 1300 (e.g., a controller, etc.),and a storage unit 1700 (e.g., a storage). All of the componentsillustrated in FIG. 47 are not essential components of the device 1000.More or less components than those illustrated in FIG. 47 may constitutethe device 1000.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 47, the device 1000 may include theoutput unit 1700, the processor 1300, and the storage unit 1700. Asillustrated in FIG. 48, the device 1000 may further include a user inputunit 1100, a sensing unit 1400, a communication unit 1500, and anaudio/video (A/V) input unit 1600, in addition to the output unit 1700,the processor 1300, and the storage unit 1700.

The user input unit 1100 denotes a unit via which a user inputs data forcontrolling the device 1000. For example, the user input unit 1100 maybe, but not limited to, a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (e.g., acapacitive overlay type, a resistive overlay type, an infrared beamtype, an integral strain gauge type, a surface acoustic wave type, apiezo electric type, or the like), a jog wheel, or a jog switch.

The user input unit 1100 may receive a user input of selecting a virtualimage that is to be displayed. The user input unit 1100 may also receivea user input for setting an operation of the virtual image and a userinput for purchasing an item associated with the virtual image.

The output unit 1200 may output an audio signal, a video signal, or avibration signal, and may include a display 1210, an audio output unit1220, and a vibration motor 1230. The output unit 1200 may display awindow of an application and an object representing the windows includedin a work group.

The display 1210 displays information that is processed by the device1000. For example, the display 1210 may display a user interface forselecting a virtual image, a user interface for setting an operation ofthe virtual image, and a user interface for purchasing an item of thevirtual image.

When the display 1210 forms a layer structure together with a touch padto construct a touch screen, the display 1210 may be used as an inputdevice as well as an output device. The display 1210 may include atleast one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin filmtransistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organic light-emittingdiode (OLED), a flexible display, a 3D display, and an electrophoreticdisplay. According to exemplary embodiments of the device 1000, thedevice 1000 may include at least two displays 1210. The at least twodisplays 1210 may be disposed to face each other by using a hinge.

The audio output unit 1220 may output audio data that is received fromthe communication unit 1500 or stored in the storage unit 1700. Theaudio output unit 1220 may also output an audio signal (for example, acall signal receiving sound, a message receiving sound, a notificationsound) related with a function of the device 1000. The audio output unit1220 may include a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The vibration motor 1230 may output a vibration signal. For example, thevibration motor 1230 may output a vibration signal corresponding to anoutput of audio data or video data (for example, a call signal receivingsound or a message receiving sound). The vibration motor 1230 may alsooutput a vibration signal when the touch screen is touched.

The processor 1300 typically controls all operations of the device 1000.For example, the processor 1300 may control the user input unit 1100,the output unit 1200, the sensing unit 1400, the communication unit1500, the A/V input unit 1600, and the like by executing programs storedin the storage unit 1700.

In detail, the processor 1300 may determine a work group includingwindows of a plurality of applications. When at least one of the windowsincluded in the work group is displayed on the output unit 1200, theprocessor 1300 may control at least one object representing the windowsincluded in the work group to be displayed on the displayed window.

The processor 1300 may control the object representing the windowsincluded in the work group to be displayed on a frame of the displayedwindow.

The processor 1300 may control objects representing the windows otherthan the displayed window from among the windows included in the workgroup to be displayed.

As a certain text within a window is copied, the processor 1300 maycontrol an object, which represents at least one window to which thecopied text is to be pasted, to be displayed.

As a specific object displayed within the window is selected, theprocessor 1300 may control the device 1300 to display a windowcorresponding to the selected object.

When a work group area representing a work group is displayed on theoutput unit 1200, the processor 1300 may select a window that is beingexecuted via an application, based on a user input, and add an objectrepresenting the selected window to the work group area.

The processor 1300 may set an attribute that is common to the windowsincluded in a work group. The common attribute may include informationabout a connected external device.

The processor 1300 may select at least one application that is not beingexecuted, and add the selected application to the work group.

The processor 1300 may acquire attribute information of at least onewindow from among the windows included in the work group, and add awindow of at least one application currently being executed via anotherapplication to the work group, based on the acquired attributeinformation.

The sensing unit 1400 may sense the status of the device 1000 or thestatus of the surrounding of the device 1000 and may transmitinformation corresponding to the sensed status to the processor 1300.

The sensing unit 1400 may include, but is not limited thereto, at leastone selected from a magnetic sensor 1410, an acceleration sensor 1420, atemperature/humidity sensor 1430, an infrared sensor 1440, a gyroscopesensor 1450, a position sensor (e.g., a GPS) 1460, a pressure sensor1470, a proximity sensor 1480, and an RGB sensor 1490 (i.e., a luminancesensor). Functions of most of the sensors would be instinctivelyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of their namesand thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted herein.

The communication unit 1500 (e.g., a transceiver, etc.) may include atleast one component that enables communication between the device 1000and the external device 4000. For example, the communication unit 1500may include a short-range wireless communication unit 1510, a mobilecommunication unit 1520, and a broadcasting reception unit 1530.

The short-range wireless communication unit 1510 may include, but is notlimited to, a Bluetooth communicator, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)communicator, a near field communication (NFC) unit, a wireless localarea network (WLAN) (e.g., Wi-Fi) communicator, a ZigBee communicator,an infrared Data Association (IrDA) communicator, a Wi-Fi direct (WFD)communicator, an ultra wideband (UWB) communicator, an Ant+communicator, and the like.

The mobile communication unit 1520 may exchange a wireless signal withat least one selected from a base station, an external terminal, and aserver on a mobile communication network. Examples of the wirelesssignal may include a voice call signal, a video call signal, and varioustypes of data generated during a short message service (SMS)/multimediamessaging service (MMS).

The broadcasting reception unit 1530 receives a broadcasting signaland/or broadcasting-related information from an external source via abroadcasting channel. The broadcasting channel may be a satellitechannel, a ground wave channel, or the like. According to exemplaryembodiments, the device 1000 may not include the broadcasting receptionunit 1530.

The communication unit 1500 may communicate with the external device4000 in order to display the windows included in a work group.

The A/V input unit 1600 inputs an audio signal or a video signal, andmay include a camera 1610 and a microphone 1620. The camera 1610 mayacquire an image frame, such as a still image or a moving picture, viaan image sensor in a video call mode or a photography mode. An imagecaptured via the image sensor may be processed by the processor 1300 ora separate image processor (not shown).

The image frame obtained by the camera 1610 may be stored in the storageunit 1700 or transmitted to the outside via the communication unit 1500.At least two cameras 1610 may be included according to exemplaryembodiments of the structure of a terminal.

The microphone 1620 receives an external audio signal and converts theexternal audio signal into electrical audio data. For example, themicrophone 1620 may receive an audio signal from an external device or aspeaking person. The microphone 1620 may use various noise removalalgorithms in order to remove noise that is generated while receivingthe external audio signal.

The storage unit 1700 may store a program used by the processor 1300 toperform processing and control, and may also store data that is input toor output from the device 1000.

The storage unit 1700 may include at least one type of storage mediumselected from among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimediacard micro type, a card type memory (for example, a secure digital (SD)or extreme digital (XD) memory), a random access memory (RAM), a staticrandom access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), magneticmemory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk.

The programs stored in the storage unit 1700 may be classified into aplurality of modules according to their functions, for example, a UImodule 1710, a touch screen module 1720, and a notification module 1730.

The UI module 1710 may provide a UI, GUI, or the like that isspecialized for each application and interoperates with the device 1000.The touch screen module 1720 may detect a touch gesture on a touchscreen of a user and transmit information regarding the touch gesture tothe processor 1300. The touch screen module 1720 according to anexemplary embodiment may recognize and analyze a touch code. The touchscreen module 1720 may be configured by separate hardware including acontroller.

In order to detect the actual touch or the proximate touch on the touchpad, the touch screen may internally or externally have various sensors.An example of a sensor used to detect the real touch or the proximitytouch on the touch screen is a tactile sensor. The tactile sensordenotes a sensor that detects a touch by a specific object to a degreeto which a human feels or more. The tactile sensor may detect varioustypes of information, such as the roughness of a touched surface, thehardness of the touching object, the temperature of a touched point, andthe like.

Another example of a sensor used to detect the real touch or theproximity touch on the touch screen is a proximity sensor.

The proximity sensor is a sensor that detects the existence of an objectthat approaches a predetermined detection surface or that exists nearby,by using an electromagnetic force or infrared rays, without using anymechanical contact. Examples of the proximity sensor include atransmission-type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection-typephotoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection-type photoelectric sensor, ahigh frequency oscillation-type proximity sensor, a capacity-typeproximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an infrared-typeproximity sensor, or the like. Examples of the touch gesture of the usermay include tap, touch and hold, double tap, drag, panning, flick, dragand drop, swipe, and the like.

The notification module 1730 may generate a signal for notifying that anevent has been generated in the device 1000. Examples of the eventgenerated in the device 1000 may include call signal receiving, messagereceiving, a key signal input, schedule notification, and the like. Thenotification module 1730 may output a notification signal in the form ofa video signal via the display 1210), in the form of an audio signal viathe audio output unit 1220, or in the form of a vibration signal via thevibration motor 1230.

FIG. 49 is a block diagram of an external device 4000 according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 49, the external device 4000 may include a user inputunit 4100 (e.g., a user input, etc.), an output unit 4200, a processor4300, and a communication unit 4500.

The processor 4300 may select a window of an application based on a userinput received via the user input unit 4100. The processor 4300 maytransmit information about the selected window to the device 1000 viathe communication unit 4500 so that the selected window may be added toa work group.

When receiving an execution signal of a certain work window from thedevice 1000 via the communication unit 4500, the processor 4300 maycontrol a window corresponding to the received signal to be displayed onthe output unit 4200.

The user input unit 4100, the output unit 4200, the processor 4300, andthe communication unit 4500 are the same as the user input unit 1100,the output unit 1200, the processor 1300, and the communication unit1500 of the device 1000, respectively, and thus detailed descriptionthereof will be omitted.

The inventive concept may also be embodied as a storage medium includinginstruction codes executable by a computer such as a program moduleexecuted by the computer. A computer readable medium can be any usablemedium which can be accessed by the computer and includes allvolatile/non-volatile and removable/non-removable media. Further, thecomputer readable medium may include all computer storage andcommunication media. The computer storage medium includes allvolatile/non-volatile and removable/non-removable media embodied by acertain method or technology for storing information such as computerreadable instruction code, a data structure, a program module or otherdata. The communication medium typically includes the computer readableinstruction code, the data structure, the program module, or other dataof a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transmissionmechanism, and includes any information transmission medium.

The terminology “unit” used herein may be a hardware component such as aprocessor or a circuit, and/or a software component that is executed bya hardware component such as a processor.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosedfor illustrative purposes, one of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that diverse variations and modifications are possible,without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept.Thus, the above exemplary embodiments should be understood not to berestrictive but to be illustrative, in all aspects. For example,respective elements described in an integrated form may be dividedlyused, and the divided elements may be used in a state of being combined.

The exemplary embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense onlyand not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspectswithin each exemplary embodiment should typically be considered asavailable for other similar features or aspects in other exemplaryembodiments.

While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the disclosure as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic apparatus having a display, theelectronic apparatus comprising: a memory storing instructions; aprocessor configured to execute the instructions to at least: control toprovide, in a work group object area of a screen of the display, aplurality of work group objects including a first work group object anda second work group object, wherein the first work group object and thesecond work group object represent a first work group and a second workgroup, respectively, based on a selection for the first work groupobject among the provided plurality of work group objects, control toprovide, in a bar region of the screen, a first plurality of windowobjects representing a first plurality of windows, wherein the firstplurality of windows are provided in the screen based on differentapplications respectively corresponding to the first plurality ofwindows being executed, based on a selection for the second work groupobject among the provided plurality of work group objects, control toprovide, in the bar region of the screen, a second plurality of windowobjects representing a second plurality of windows by replacing thefirst plurality of window objects with the second plurality of windowobjects, wherein the second plurality of windows are provided in thescreen based on different applications respectively corresponding to thesecond plurality of windows being executed, based on a selection for oneof the second plurality of window objects, control to provide a windowcorresponding to the selected one of the second plurality of windowobjects along with the second plurality of window objects, in responseto an input while providing the window corresponding to the selected oneof the second plurality of window objects, control to change a shadingof at least a portion of the provided window and control to provide, onthe provided window, another object representing windows correspondingto all of the second plurality of window objects and not the firstplurality of window objects, while providing the second plurality ofwindow objects associated with the selected second work group, and basedon a drag-and-drop of an object representing a window from an area ofthe screen distinct from the work group object area and distinct fromthe bar region of the screen, to the first work group object whileproviding the plurality of work group objects in the work group objectarea of the screen and while providing the second plurality of windowobjects in the bar region of the screen without the first plurality ofwindow objects, control to associate the window with the first workgroup, wherein the drag-and-dropped object is provided in the screenbased on an application corresponding to the drag-and-dropped objectbeing executed.
 2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein theprocessor configured to execute the instructions further to: control toprovide a work group setting menu for selecting to enable use of workgroups; and based on an input to the work group setting menu, control toallow to associate at least two windows corresponding to two differentapplications with a work group.
 3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1,wherein the other object representing the windows comprises images ofthe windows corresponding to all of the second plurality of windowobjects.
 4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first workgroup object and the second work group object comprise an image of thefirst work group and an image of the second work group, respectively. 5.The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein, while window objects arebeing provided in the bar region, a location of the bar region isindependent of movement of windows represented by the window objectsbeing provided in the bar region.
 6. The electronic apparatus of claim1, wherein the processor configured to execute the instructions furtherto control to provide, based on a selection for a third work groupobject representing a third work group associated with one window of anapplication, a window object representing the one window and beingselectable to provide the one window.
 7. The electronic apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein any of the windows corresponding to the secondplurality of window objects is selectable through the other object.
 8. Amethod performed by an electronic device having a display, the methodcomprising: displaying, in a work group object area of a screen of thedisplay, a plurality of work group objects including a first work groupobject and a second work group object, wherein the first work groupobject and the second work group object represent a first work group anda second work group, respectively; based on a selection for the firstwork group object among the displayed plurality of work group objects,displaying, in a bar region of the screen, a first plurality of windowobjects representing a first plurality of windows, wherein the firstplurality of windows are provided in the screen based on differentapplications respectively corresponding to the first plurality ofwindows being executed; based on a selection for the second work groupobject among the displayed plurality of work group objects, displaying,in the bar region of the screen, a second plurality of window objectsrepresenting a second plurality of windows by replacing the firstplurality of window objects with the second plurality of window objects,wherein the second plurality of windows are provided in the screen basedon different applications respectively corresponding to the secondplurality of windows being executed; based on a selection for one of thesecond plurality of window objects, displaying a window corresponding tothe selected one of the second plurality of window objects along withthe second plurality of window objects; in response to an input whiledisplaying the window corresponding to the selected one of the secondplurality of window object, changing a shading of at least a portion ofthe displayed window and displaying, on the displayed window, anotherobject representing windows corresponding to all of the second pluralityof window objects and not the first plurality of window objects, whiledisplaying the second plurality of window objects associated with theselected second work group; based on a drag-and-drop of an objectrepresenting a window from an area of the screen distinct from the workgroup object area and distinct from the bar region of the screen, to thefirst work group object while displaying the plurality of work groupobjects in the work group object area of the screen and while displayingthe second plurality of window objects in the bar region of the screenwithout the first plurality of window objects, associating the windowwith the first work group, wherein the drag-and-dropped object isprovided in the screen based on an application corresponding to thedrag-and-dropped object being executed.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the bar region of the screen is a tray window which is presentedby an operating system of the electronic device.
 10. The method of claim8, wherein the method further comprises: displaying a work group settingmenu for selecting to enable use of work groups; and based on an inputto the work group setting menu, allowing to associate at least twowindows corresponding to two different applications with a work group.11. The method of claim 8, wherein, while window objects are beingdisplayed in the bar region, a location of the bar region is independentof movement of windows represented by the window objects being displayedin the bar region.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the method furthercomprises displaying, based on a third input for a third work groupobject representing a third work group associated with one window of anapplication, a window object representing the one window and beingselectable to provide the one window.
 13. The method of claim 8, whereinany of the windows corresponding to the second plurality of windowobjects is selectable through the other object.
 14. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon instructionsexecutable by a processor of an electronic device having a display tocause the electronic device to perform operations comprising: providing,in a work group object area of a screen of the display, a plurality ofwork group objects including a first work group object and a second workgroup object, wherein the first work group object and the second workgroup object represent a first work group and a second work group,respectively; based on a selection for the first work group object amongthe provided plurality of work group objects, providing, in a bar regionof the screen, a first plurality of window objects representing a firstplurality of windows along with the first plurality of windowscorresponding to the first plurality of window objects, wherein thefirst plurality of windows are provided in the screen based on differentapplications respectively corresponding to the first plurality ofwindows being executed; based on a selection for the second work groupobject among the provided plurality of work group objects, providing, inthe bar region of the screen, a second plurality of window objectsrepresenting a second plurality of windows along with the secondplurality of windows corresponding to the second plurality of windowobjects, wherein the second plurality of windows are provided in thescreen based on different applications respectively corresponding to thesecond plurality of windows being executed; based on a selection for oneof the second plurality of window objects, providing a windowcorresponding to the selected one of the second plurality of windowobjects along with the second plurality of window objects; in responseto an input while providing the window corresponding to the selected oneof the second plurality of window objects, changing a shading of atleast a portion of the provided window and providing, on the providedwindow, another object representing windows corresponding to all of thesecond plurality of window objects and not the first plurality of windowobjects, while providing the second plurality of window objectsassociated with the selected second work group; and based on adrag-and-drop of a window from an area of the screen distinct from thework group object area and distinct from the bar region of the screen,to the first work group object while providing the plurality of workgroup objects in the work group object area of the screen and whileproviding the second plurality of window objects in the bar region ofthe screen without the first plurality of window objects, associatingthe window with the first work group, wherein the drag-and-droppedwindow is provided in the screen based on an application correspondingto the drag-and-dropped window being executed.
 15. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium of claim 14, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: providing a work group setting menu for enabling useof work groups; and based on an input to the work group setting menu forenabling the use of the work groups, allowing to associate at least twowindows corresponding to two different applications with a work group.16. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 14,wherein the other object representing the windows comprises images ofthe windows corresponding to all of the second plurality of windowobjects.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium ofclaim 14, wherein the first work group object and the second work groupobject comprise an image of the first work group and an image of thesecond work group, respectively.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium of claim 14, wherein a number ofprovided window objects for each work group is the same as a number ofprovided windows which are associated with the work group.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 14, whereinthe operations further comprise providing, based on a selection for athird work group object representing a third work group associated withone window of an application, a window object representing the onewindow and being selectable to provide the one window.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 14, whereinany of the windows corresponding to the second plurality of windowobjects is selectable through the other object.
 21. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium of claim 14, wherein the providingthe second plurality of window objects comprises providing, in the barregion of the screen, the second plurality of window objects byreplacing the first plurality of window objects in the bar region withthe second plurality of window objects.
 22. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium of claim 21, wherein while windowobjects are being provided in the bar region, a location of the barregion is independent of movement of windows represented by the windowobjects being provided in the bar region.